Genrikh Moiseyevich Kasparian was born in Tbilisi, Georgia (then Russian Empire). He was awarded the IM title in 1950, International Judge of Chess Compositions title in 1956 and Grandmaster of Chess Compositions title in 1972. As a player he was ten times Armenian Champion and defeated Vitaly Chekhover (+6, =7, -4) in a match in 1936. He was also an author, analyst and composer. In the field of endgame studies he is best known, regarded by many as the greatest study composer of all time.
He passed away in Yerevan in 1995.

Aspirador: <syracrophy> You are very sceptical. 1.Qf5 fxg6 2.Qd7+ Kb8 3.b4 is an easy win for white, Re5 and Nd2 are both in trouble. Did you download the engines I told you about? Check it out, it's a great help for checking studies, syracrophy.

<acirce> His great collection <Domination in 2545 Endgame Studies> is one of my favourite (endgame) books!

This worldwide anthology of endgame studies is divided into thematic sections in which white wins by trapping pieces. The studies were selected with a view to presenting a clear picture of the rise and development of different ideas and enabling the reader to appraise the past and present of endgame composition in the sphere of piece-trapping.

"Though White is two pieces ahead, Black threatens 1 ... fxg2# as well as 1 ... e1=Q. It appears that Black's threats are more potent than White's plus in material. On an open board, however, a Bishop may prove to be more powerful than a Queen. Here is how it is done: <1. Bh2+ Kh4> Not 1 ... Kf2 2. gxf3, and Black is helpless since his Pawn at e2, being pinned, cannot move. <2. Rxe2 fxe2 3. Bc7!> Paradoxical; it forces Black to Queen with check. <3 ... e1=Q+> If 3 .. g4 4. Bxa5 wins. <4. Kh2> White has another threat: 5. g3+. Black makes the only move. <5 .. Qf2> Now White's Pawn at g2 is immobilized. <5. Bd6!> Black is in Zugzwang - compelled to move against his will. Otherwise, he might survive. <5 ... Qf4+ 6. g3+ Qxg3+ 7. Bxg3#> The final setting is an elegant example of the triumph of the spiritual over the material, illustrating that a Bishop on the right track is superior to a Queen that is derailed."

Let me try to recollect more about the position in my memory. In the one that I saw (published in Chess Life sometime in the 1990's) it starts off with the White king "frozen" and without move. So White, who was obviously losing and desperate for a draw, offering the white Queen and the Black king kept running away from her since any capture would lead to stalemate. But then, the tables turned, and Black was finally able to get out of check by offering the Black queen. Not merely "blocking with the Queen" but offering it, free for the taking. But White couldn't take it--because then White would take the offering with one last check and go on to lose the game. (I forget the details of exactly why and how, but that was the concept).

So the unforgettable nature of the position, is that the motif switched from White with the "Crazy Queen" to one where Black had the "Crazy Queen". The only position I've ever seen like that in my life.

I actually forget the final outcome with best play. It suppose, based on my description, it must have been "White to play and draw."

I have boxes of old Chess Lifes, and sometimes I flip through them looking for the position, but never with any luck. I am almost sure it was Pal Benko's "Endgame Laboratory" column.

whiteshark: <zooter> I neither know your nor the <reputed international player>, but maybe you like to know something Mark Dvoretzky wrote concerning this matter:

" By solving or playing studies, we train our imagination and our ability to decipher the opponent's ideas, as well as the calculation of variations and the rapid taking of decisions by the method of elimination. Some studies expand our understanding of the endgame.

...

In studies there is an absence of positional evaluation. Hence the conclusion: you can and should, by solving studies, train your imagination and calculation. But to develop your positional understanding in this way is not possible. Moreover, even for improvement in tactical, calculating play your should not restrict yourself to studies alone. It is also useful to test your powers in finding 'inexact combinations', with an interlacing of calculation and evaluation, in which chess is so rich."

arsen387: <CG> He was Armenian, why is it written Georgia under his name? I think the country where he was born is not that much important to write near his name with the dates of his birth and death, but rather the country where he is from, where he also lived, worked and died.

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